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Bantval Jayant Baliga, an Indian-born electrical engineer, has won the 2024 Millennium Technology Prize for his innovative work in reducing global electrical energy and petrol consumption.
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Baliga’s invention, the insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), has reduced carbon emissions by over 82 gigatons in the past 30 years, powering appliances and vehicles globally.
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Baliga credits his success to his education at IIT Madras, which provided a strong foundation for his future achievements.
Bantval Jayant Baliga, a Chennai-born electrical engineer, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Millennium Technology Prize for his groundbreaking innovation that has dramatically reduced global electrical energy and petrol consumption. His invention, the insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), has become a cornerstone technology, powering appliances and vehicles worldwide.
Baliga’s journey began at IIT Madras, where he earned his BTech in Electrical Engineering. He then moved to the US, where he excelled at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, earning a perfect 4.0 GPA. His success challenged the notion that Indian students couldn’t handle rigorous curricula.
Baliga’s work has transformed industries worldwide, reducing carbon emissions by over 82 gigatons in the past 30 years. He will receive the €1 million prize in Finland on October 30. Despite his achievements abroad, Baliga reflects on the challenges of developing semiconductor technology in India, highlighting the need for infrastructure investments to tap into India’s talent pool.
